Horticultural buildings

Front matter

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Advertisements.

SILVER MEDAL.

Preface

position as member of the firm of T. H. P. Dennis & Co. of London and Chelmsford, has afforded me, during several years past, peculiar facilities for collecting practical notes on horti¬ cultural buildings ; which notes appear, for the first time, in this volume. But in order that the public may derive every benefit from my experience, without any of the obvious disadvantages arising from my position, I have honestly endeavoured to treat the subject from an inde¬ pendent, disinterested stand-point. I have also endeavoured to ascertain some of the principles which underlie the mechanical details connected with horticultural buildings, and to embody a record of these principles in the notes.

The contents of this volume must be considered suggestive rather than exhaustive.

Up to the present date no book has existed, from which a gentleman could obtain, in a complete, concise form, unbiassed, reliable information to assist him in deciding what garden-structures would best suit his require¬ ments : in which an architect could see just those constructional and mechanical points which should be decided by the horticulturist : and in which a gardener could find details beyond his province, but with which he should certainly be acquainted. There is frequently a natural repugnance, on the part of those who seek guidance, to consult horticultural builders catalogues, which give no scientific, and very little practical information, and are necessarily regarded as trade advertisements.

PREFACE.

The mechanics of horticulture has decidedly failed to receive that atten¬ tion from the architectural and horticultural press, which ihe importance of the subject has warranted. While a vast amount of knowledge regarding plants, flowers, and fruit has been disseminated weekly, but little has been written upon the proper construction and arrangement of buildings required for the cultivation of those plants, flowers, and fruits.

If the present volume renders the gentleman, the architect or the gar¬ dener any assistance, and supplies a necessary link between the architectural and horticultural interests : if the architectural or horticultural press is stimulated to a more extended development of its functions : and if, by a combination of these results, horticulture is benefitted to the slightest extent, the objects I have in view will be attained.

My thanks are due to those firms and gentlemen mentioned in various parts of the book who have so kindly placed information at my disposal, and allowed me, for my own purposes, to illustrate their productions.

F. A. FAWKES.

Mansion House Buildings, London, March, 1881.

ANALYSIS OF CONTENTS.

PAGES.

Preface.

I to

8 „

The Sun’s Rays

12 „

18 „

26 ,,

29 „

35 »

38 „

61 „

Garden Frames, &c.

77 »

88 „

Timber

93 .»

98 „

Paint

no .

ill

Method Adopted. General Hints. Historical.

Social.

The Seasons. Inclination of Earth’s Axis.

Equinoxes.

Plant Life. Light Eays. Heat Rays. Chemi¬ cal Rays.

Angular Measurements. Best Transmission of Solar Rays. Various Conditions.

Buildings against Walls. In the Open.

Various Conditions and Aspects discussed.

Apparatus required. Elementary Principles.

Levels in regard to Horticultural Buildings.

General Remarks. Drainage of Horticultural Buildings.

Lean-to. Span. Three-quarterS pan. Curvilinear.

Ridge and Furrow. Iron v . Wood. Wall Tree Protectors. Combinations of Buildings.

Conservatories: Horticultural: Architectural: Interior Treatment: Constructional. Winter Gardens.

Garden Frames. Pits. Plant Protectors.

Potting-Shed. Fruit-Room. Packing-Shed.

Mushroom-House. Root-Store. Seed-Room.

Fuel-Shed. Tool-House. Ice-House. Open Shed. Gardener’s Office. Gardener’s Apart¬ ments. W.C. Manure Pit. Rubbish Pit.

Summer-House.

General Notes. Concrete. Horticultural Brick¬ work.

Description of various Woods. Seasoning '.

Decay : and Preservation.

Properties of Glass. Various kinds of Glass.

Horticultural Glass. Glazing with Putty.

Mechanical: Glazing Helliwell : Johnson: Rendle: and Shelley’s Systems.

Composition of Paint. Knotting. Priming.

Stopping. Periodical Painting.

Analysis of contents.

Training Wires Opening Gear Staging

Condensation and Drip

Miscellaneous Notes on Construction Various Modes of Heat¬ ing

Legal

Insurance

144 „ 148

156 „ 159

160 ,, 162

163 „ 165 166 ,, 168

Vertical Wires. Horizontal Wires. Rigid Supports. Trellis.

Set Opens. Simultaneous Gear. Its Applica¬ tion.

Wood Stages. Stages for Span-Houses. Stages for Lean-to Houses. Tiered Stages. Solid Stages. Ornamental Iron Stages.

General Principles. Examples. Application to Horticultural Buildings. Forms of Venti¬ lators. Sliding Lights. Hinged Ventilators.

Pivotted Ventilators. Casements. Window Sashes. Sliding Shutters. “ Hit-and-Miss ”

Gratings. Parallel Ventilators. Suction Ventilators. Throttle Ventilators. Permanent Openings.

Permanent Shading. Obscure Glass. Stippling.

Temporary Shading. Blinds.

Candles and Lamps. Gas. Electric Light.

Theory. Construction. Practical Notes.

Striking Boxes.

Conditions. Drainage. Dimensions. Con¬ struction. General Notes.

Permanent Paths. Stone : Slate : Brisk : Tile : Concrete : and Cement Paths. Portable Paths. Wood and Iron Paths. General Notes.

Causes. Constructional Prevention. Outside Drip.

Gutters. Scantling. Roofs.

169 „ 173 174 „ 226

227 „ 235

249 .9 253

254 .9 255

Fermenting Materials. Flues. Hot-air Stoves.

Lamps. Gas Stoves. High Pressure Hot Water. Steam.

General Principles. Application. Causes of Failure. The Radiating Surface. Quantity of Pipe. Pipe for Bottom Heat. Position of Pipes. Height, &c., of Column to ensure Circulation. Vaporizing Troughs. Expan¬ sion Boxes and Supply Cisterns. Air Pipes: Mains. Valves. Joints. Boilers: Saddle: Tubular : Independent. Furnaces and Boiler Settings. Position of Boilers. Fuel. Stoking.

Soft Water. Storage. Distribution. Hard Water. Methods of Raising Water. Standard of Power. Manual or Horse Power. Water Power. Wind Power. Gauging a Stream.

Barometer. Thermometer. Air Temperature.

Solar Radiation. Hygrometer. Electric Thermometer and Alarm. Vane. Anemo¬ meter.

Tenant’s Fixtures. Tarty Walls, &c. The Metropolitan Buildings Act. Local Boards.

Architects and Surveyors’ Charges.

Fire. Hail.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Fig.

20 21 22 2 3

Page.

Frontispiece. — Interior and exterior views of conservatory.

8 The earth’s axis at right angles to the plane of the ecliptic.

9 The earth’s axis inclined to the plane of the ecliptic.

9 Angle of sun's maximum altitude during the longest day.

9 Angle of sun’s maximum altitude during the shortest day.

10 Maximum inclination of pencil of solar rays during the longest day.

10 Maximum inclination of pencil of solar rays during the shortest day.

11 Points on the horizon of the sun’s rising and setting on the longest day.

1 1 Points on the horizon of the sun’s rising and setting on the shortest day.

14 Diagram illustrating law of radiant light and heat.

19 Method of determining angular measurement of roofs.

21 Loss of solar rays in transmission through glass.

22 Relation between inclination of roof and latitude.

29 Levelling instrument.

30 Method of long distance levelling.

31 Method of short distance levelling.

32 Longitudinal block elevation of a house embanked.

32 Longitudinal block elevation of a house half excavated, half embanked :

33 Longitudinal block elevation of a house on step levels.

33 Longitudinal block elevation of an unlevelled house (incorrect).

33 Longitudinal block elevation of an unlevelled house (faulty).

39 Section of lean-to house with front lights.

39 Section of lean-to house without front lights.

40 Section of broken roof lean-to house.

42 Section of span-house with front lights.

43 Section of span-house without front lights.

43 Section of span-house with high glass sides.

44 Section of large span-house with lantern roof.

46 Block section illustrating nomenclature of houses.

46 Section of three-quarter span- house.

48 Vertical block section showing sun’s rays striking a curvilinear roof.

48 Vertical block section showing sun’s rays striking a flat roof.

48 Vertical block section showing a method of determining the radius of curvilinear roof.

50 Vertical block section showing modes of constructing a roof of various spans.

53 Vertical section of wall-tree coping and cover.

54 Interior perspective of Rivers’ wall-tree cover.

IV

Fig.

5°

9°

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page.

54 Vertical section of front of Rivers’ wall-tree cover.

56 Vertical block section of combination of span-houses.

57 Block plan of moderate sized combination of houses.

58 Block plan of large combination of houses.

59 Perspective view of range of green-houses, &c.

61 Exterior view of conservatory.

62 Exterior ,, ,,

63 Interior ,, ,,

64 Marble mosaic pavement.

65 Tile pavement.

66 Exterior view of conservatory.

67 Exterior view of conservatory.

68 Panel of lead glazing.

71 Two-light melon or cucumber frame.

72 Perspective view of Dennis & Co.’s registered plant frame.

73 Transverse section of ,, ,, ,,

74 Block for ventilating pit lights.

74 Perspective view of Dennis & Co.’s registered “ Bijou” green-house

75 Transverse section of Dennis & Co.’s registered “ Bijou” gre en-house

76 Ground vinery.

79 Transverse section of fruit shelf.

87 Improved summer-house.

91 Section of wall.

92 Section of front wall for border.

101 Various modes of cutting glass.

102 Vertical section of putty.

103 Helliwell’s system of glazing.

104 Section of Helliwell’s vertical bar.

105 Section of Johnson’s glazing bar.

105 Rendle’s “Combination ” system of glazing.

106 Rendle’s “ Acme ” system of glazing.

107 Sections of Shelley’s glazing bar

1 14 Raidisseur.

1 18 Opening gear for separate roof lights.

1 18 Lever simultaneous opening gear.

122 Plan of stages for narrow span-house.

123 ,, „ wide span-house.

124 Plan of stages for lean-to house.

124 „ ,, short lean-to house.

128 Plan of conservatory stages.

128 Sections of supports for tiered stages.

133 Vertical section of room showing currents of air.

136 Vertical section of span-house showing currents of air.

140 Plan of casement ventilators.

141 Archimedian screw ventilator.

142 Longitudinal section of “ throttle ” ventilator.

146 Plan showing method of actuating roller blind.

15° Self-ventilating light.

153 Section of forcing bed.

156 Section of border.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

V

Fig.

Page.

93 \

IOI no in

1 14

1 19

Slow-combustion stove.

Longitudinal section of heating apparatus.

Sections of combined rows of pipe.

Ground plan of hot- water mains and pipes.

Section of high-pressure valve.

Throttle valve.

H-pipe and valves.

Section of india-rubber ring joint.

Diagram of effective boiler-heating surface.

Saddle boiler.

Improved saddle boiler.

Upright tubular boiler.

Horizontal tubular boiler.

Independent conical boiler.

,, cased conical boiler.

,, ,, tubular „

Diagram showing boiler in different positions.

Notchboard for “ gauging ” a stream.

Levelling peg for notchboard.

Barometer.

Thermometer.

Hot-bed thermometer.

Maximum thermometer.

Minimum thermometer.

Solar radiation thermometer.

Hygrometer.

Electric thermometer and alarm.

Anemometer.

Glaisher’s rain gauge .

Negretti & Zambra’s rain gauge.

Thermometric scales.

LIST OF TABLES.

No.

Page.

i

JO ii l6

2 3

Loss of light by transmission through glass.

Loss of light by reflection from glass.

Actinic intensity of daylight.

Angular measurement of roofs.

Angular measurement of roofs.

Pitch of roofs at various latitudes.

Difference between apparent and true levels.

Provision for draining various surfaces.

Drainage of land.

Brick-work for retaining walls.

Dimensions of brick walls.

Dimensions of stages for small span-houses.

Dimensions of stages for large span-houses.

Dimensions of stages for lean-to houses.

Dimensions of tiered stages for lean-to houses.

Dimensions of tiered stages for span-houses.

Relative volumes of air at different temperatures.

Thermal conductivity of various materials.

Relative volumes of water at different temperatures.

Length of pipe required to produce various temperatures.

Length of pipe required to produce various temperatures.

Pipe required for bottom heat.

Velocity of hot-water necessary to renew heat.

Friction of water in pipes.

Height of a column of water at different temperatures.

Amount of water contained in pipes.

Air required for the combustion of various fuels.

Volumes of air, c., emitted from the chimney after burning various fuels.

Dimensions of fire-bars.

Relation between area of fire-bars and length of pipe heated. Analyses of various fuels.

Units of heat evolved from various fuels,

Consumption of coal.

Gauging a stream.

Elastic force of vapour.

Indications of the hygrometer.

Wind velocity and pressure.

Meteorological observations,